Bulls keep first as a birthright

By RODNEY PAGE

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 10, 2000

Ever since Durham became the Devil Rays' Triple-A affiliate in 1998, the Bulls have just about owned first place. Durham won the International League's Southern Division in '98 with an 80-64 record and repeated last season with an 83-60 record. This season, it appears as if the Bulls are on their way to a third straight division title.

Through Monday's games, Durham is 21-7, 81/2 games ahead of second-place Charlotte. The Bulls have the best winning percentage in the league.

"We're playing good ball right now," said Bulls manager Bill Evers, who has been in Durham since 1998 and won a Florida State League championship with St. Petersburg in 1997. "We have a good blend of veterans and younger players. A lot of guys are hungry to get back to the big club."

There are many familiar names playing for the Bulls, and playing well.

Second baseman Bobby Smith, one of the last players sent down by Tampa Bay at the end of spring, is hitting .324 and is among the top five in the league with 24 RBI and 10 stolen bases. Outfielder Randy Winn is hitting .344 with 11 doubles. Third baseman Aubrey Huff is hitting .333 with 10 doubles and 18 RBI. Outfielder Ozzie Timmons was the International League Player of the Week for May 1-7 after hitting .478 with three doubles, four homers and eight RBI during that span. Timmons is hitting .318 overall.

Durham is second to Buffalo with a .286 team average. The Bulls are third with a 3.59 ERA.

Right-hander Mickey Callaway, who pitched for Tampa Bay briefly last season, is 2-1 with a 2.91 ERA. Right-hander Dan Wheeler, who started the season in Tampa Bay, is 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA. Right-hander Bill Taylor leads the team with eight saves.

ORLANDO: The Rays lead the Southern League with a 2.86 ERA. Prospects Bobby Seay and Matt White have looked strong.

In six games and 32 innings through Monday, Seay is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA. He has 33 strikeouts and 12 walks.

White has been overpowering at times. In six games and 34 innings, he is 2-2 with a 3.44 ERA. He has 28 strikeouts and 19 walks.

Catcher/designated hitter Toby Hall's hitting streak ended at 15, but he still is third in the Southern League with a .333 average through Monday. Infielder Brian Becker is seventh with a .314 average. Right-hander Francisco De La Cruz was released.

ST. PETERSBURG: Third baseman Andrew Beinbrink received the George M. Trautman Award as the New York-Penn League Player of the Year on Saturday. Beinbrink, a four-year starter at Arizona State and the Devil Rays' seventh choice in the 1999 June draft, hit .339 with 51 RBI for the Hudson Valley Renegades last season. This season, Beinbrink is hitting .262 through Monday's games.

Catcher Matt Quatraro was activated from the disabled list Sunday. Right-hander Jason Standridge improved to 2-2 Monday when he allowed two hits over seven innings. Standridge has a 2.87 ERA in 372/3 innings.

CHARLESTON: Rightfielder Carl Crawford had an infield single Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 20 games, topping Detroit's Juan Encarnacion for the longest in professional baseball this season. Crawford, the Rays' second-round pick in the June 1999 draft, was hitting .325 (26-for-80) through the first 19 games. The organization record is a 26-game streak by Huff last season.

The Riverdogs dropped to 14-17 after a five-game losing streak. They have lost eight of their past nine. Infielder Frank Moore was placed on the disabled list with a groin strain. Infielder Irwin Centeno was transferred from the Venezuelan summer league to Charleston. Infielder Dan Grummitt was placed on the disabled list and infielder Efrain Alamo was released.

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